They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
What they didn’t tell you is that some pictures make mommies very weepy. Some will make us get warm fuzzies and become great puddles of melty liquidy stuff (also called “love) . . . while other pictures can cause great pain as we recall grief and valleys we walked through.
To make things even more complicated, on rare occasions, we can look at a single picture and experience both sides of those feelings. And the men are left scratching their heads.
Emotions. Truth is, I am extremely grateful God built them into us. They are what make our world vivid reds and oranges, deep blues and purples, and calming greens. Dynamic as they are, life becomes vibrant, active and brilliant. Richness itself. It would indeed be boring if life was only black and white with varying hues of grey.
So when I came across a picture on my laptop recently, my emotions raced across the entire rollercoaster of all those colors. Happiness that I have had such precious blessings given to me, and yet sadness that those days of many little people are fast coming to an end.
This is my favorite picture of our children. When I die, you can bury me with it.
And I suppose if I could choose one picture that depicted the goals we’ve aimed for in raising our children . . . it would be this one.
Each child is unique – even in a family of eight. And that uniqueness is loved.
Each child gets acceptance. Home should be where they are most comfortable, knowing they have room to fall and room to excel.
Little people are just as important as big people. Jesus held little ones, Jesus taught big ones. He needs them all.
You are not only accepted, but you are challenged to grow. If you don’t know how a touchdown is made, Dad and Mom will pick up the ball and show you.
They are a team. No one gets left behind. If the little guy can’t catch one, teach him the best way to do it.
The red shirt dude could run like the wind while the yellow guy could catch those high-flying footballs. It didn’t matter which side the curly-haired girlie was one, she was cheering anyway. And the sweetheart with a shirt too small for his shoulder pads was doing all he could to run with the big boys. Little green guy got his very own foam football while Baby looked cute from the sidelines.
You are loved. You are wanted. You are precious.
When I look at this picture, I can’t help but weep. I am a mom after all. I loved those days, and even with those goals, I still failed miserably many times.
And yet . . . I still have today.
We found that same old football gear from six years ago. And I still aim for those goals from six years ago. And Lord willing, I will still be aiming until these children are coming back home with my grandbabies in tow.
Even with all the rainbow colors of emotions that flood through us moms when we see old pictures, if we are honest with ourselves we would realize that we don’t want those days again. They are incredibly special right where they are.
Sweet memories are wonderful and perfect in the past . . . where we can take them out like creamy, delicious bites of chocolate to nibble on now and then. Savor the emotions. Savor the memories.
Yet there is still time to make today be another beautiful picture when I dig it out of my closet in ten years. I will never get this day again.
We can choose to make it special while we have it within our grasp.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
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Laura Graber says
You expressed my feelings exactly! It’s impossible not to have a roller coaster of emotions as I look at old pictures. I’m thankful though that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
Kendra says
I am glad, too. 😉